The winners of the Hugo Awards, the Astounding Award for Best New Writer, and the Lodestar Award for Best Young Adult Book were announced on August 11, 2024 by Glasgow 2024, the 82nd World Science Fiction Convention.
The winners included Emily Tesh, for her debut novel, Some Desperate Glory, Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples, for Saga, Volume 11, and artist Laya Rose, creator of the brilliantly presented web comic, Overgrown.
Best Novel
WINNER: Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh (Tordotcom; Orbit UK)
A thrillingly told space opera about the wreckage of war, the family you find, and the path you must forge when every choice is stripped from you. Some Desperate Glory is the debut novel from Astounding Award and World Fantasy Award-Winner, Emily Tesh.
All her life, Kyr has trained for the day she can avenge the destruction of planet Earth. Raised on Gaea Station alongside the last scraps of humanity, she is one of the best warriors of her generation, the sword of a dead planet.
Then Command assigns her brother to certain death and relegates her to the nursery to bear sons, and she knows she must take humanity’s revenge into her own hands. Alongside her brother’s brilliant but seditious friend and a lonely, captive alien, Kyr must escape from everything she’s ever known. If she succeeds, she will find a universe far more complicated than she was taught and far more wondrous than she could ever have imagined…
Also Nominated: The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi, Shannon Chakraborty (Harper Voyager; Harper Voyager UK); The Saint of Bright Doors, Vajra Chandrasekera (Tordotcom); Translation State, Ann Leckie (Orbit US; Orbit UK); Starter Villain, John Scalzi (Tor US; Tor UK); Witch King, Martha Wells (Tordotcom)
Best Novella
WINNER: Thornhedge, T. Kingfisher (Tor; Titan UK)
There’s a princess trapped in a tower. This isn’t her story.
Meet Toadling. On the day of her birth, she was stolen from her family by the fairies, but she grew up safe and loved in the warm waters of faerieland. Once an adult though, the fae ask a favor of Toadling: return to the human world and offer a blessing of protection to a newborn child. Simple, right?
If only.
Centuries later, a knight approaches a towering wall of brambles, where the thorns are as thick as your arm and as sharp as swords. He’s heard there’s a curse here that needs breaking, but it’s a curse Toadling will do anything to uphold…
Also Nominated: “Seeds of Mercury”, Wang Jinkang / 水星播种, 王晋康, translated by Alex Woodend (Adventures in Space: New Short stories by Chinese & English Science Fiction Writers); Rose/House, Arkady Martine (Subterranean); The Mimicking of Known Successes, Malka Older (Tordotcom); Mammoths at the Gates, Nghi Vo (Tordotcom); “Life Does Not Allow Us to Meet”, He Xi / 人生不相见, 何夕,translated by Alex Woodend (Adventures in Space: New Short stories by Chinese & English Science Fiction Writers)
Best Novelette
WINNER: “The Year Without Sunshine”, Naomi Kritzer (Uncanny 11-12/23)
Also Nominated: I AM AI, Ai Jiang (Shortwave); “One Man’s Treasure”, Sarah Pinsker (Uncanny 1-2/23); “Ivy, Angelica, Bay”, C.L. Polk (Tor.com 12/8/23); “Introduction to 2181 Overture, Second Edition”, Gu Shi /〈2181序曲〉再版导言, 顾适, translated by Emily Jen (Clarkesworld 2/23); “On the Fox Roads”, Nghi Vo (Tor.com 10/31/23)
Best Short Story
WINNER: “Better Living Through Algorithms”, Naomi Kritzer (Clarkesworld 5/23)
Also Nominated: 美食三品, 宝树 / “Tasting the Future Delicacy Three Times”, Baoshu (银河边缘013：黑域密室 / Galaxy’s Edge Vol. 13: Secret Room in the Black Domain); “How to Raise a Kraken in Your Bathtub”, P. Djèlí Clark (Uncanny 1-2/23); “The Mausoleum’s Children”, Aliette de Bodard (Uncanny 5-6/23); “The Sound of Children Screaming”, Rachael K. Jones (Nightmare 10/23); “Answerless Journey”, Han Song / 没有答案的航程, 韩松, translated by Alex Woodend (Adventures in Space: New Short stories by Chinese & English Science Fiction Writers)
Best Series
WINNER: Imperial Radch, Ann Leckie (Orbit US; Orbit UK)
A warship trapped in a human body on a quest for revenge…
Also Nominated: The Universe of Xuya, Aliette de Bodard (Gollancz; JABberwocky Literary Agency; Subterranean; Uncanny; et al.); The Last Binding, Freya Marske (Tordotcom; Tor UK); October Daye, Seanan McGuire (DAW); The Laundry Files, Charles Stross (Tordotcom; Orbit UK); and The Final Architecture, Adrian Tchaikovsky (Tor UK; Orbit US)
Best Graphic Story or Comic
WINNER: Saga, Volume 11 by Brian Vaughan and Fiona Staples
While Hazel and her family fight for scraps to survive, the rich and powerful race to forge new allegiances in the universe’s never-ending war. Romeo & Juliet meets Star Wars in this genre-blending, sci-fi/fantasy space opera about star crossed lovers from enemy worlds.
An epic for mature readers, the multi-award-winning Saga follows new parents Marko and Alana as they risk everything to raise their child amidst a never-ending galactic war. The tale has become a multiple award winning, critically acclaimed masterpiece and one of the most iconic, bestselling comic book series of its time.
Also Nominated: Bea Wolf; Shubeik Lubeik; as Your Wish Is My Command; 三体漫画:第一部 / The Three Body Problem, Part One; The Witches of World War 2; Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons
Best Related Work
WINNER: A City on Mars, Kelly Weinersmith & Zach Weinersmith (Penguin Press; Particular Books)
Earth is not well. The promise of starting life anew somewhere far, far away – no climate change, no war, no Twitter – beckons, and settling the stars finally seems within our grasp. Or is it? Bestselling authors Kelly and Zach Weinersmith set out to write the essential guide to a glorious future of space settlements, but after years of original research, and interviews with leading space scientists, engineers and legal experts, they aren’t so sure it’s a good idea. Space tech and space business are progressing fast, but we lack the deep knowledge needed to have space-kids, build space-farms and create space nations in a way that doesn’t spark conflict back home. In a world hurtling toward human expansion into space, A City on Mars investigates whether the dream of new worlds won’t create a nightmare, both for settlers and the people they leave behind.
With deep expertise, a winning sense of humour and art from the beloved creator of Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal, the Weinersmiths investigate perhaps the biggest questions humanity will ever ask itself – whether and how to become multiplanetary.
Also Nominated: The Culture: The Drawings, Iain M. Banks (Orbit); 中国科幻口述史, 第二卷, 第三卷, 杨枫 / Chinese Science Fiction: An Oral History, Volumes 2 and 3, Yang Feng, ed. (8-Light Minutes Culture; Chengdu Time Press); All These Worlds, Niall Harrison (Briardene); A Traveller in Time: The Critical Practice of Maureen Kincaid Speller, Maureen Kincaid Speller, edited by Nina Allan (Academia Lunare); 雨果X访谈, 王雅婷 / Discover X, interviews presented by Tina Wong
Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form
WINNER: Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
A charming thief and a band of unlikely adventurers undertake an epic heist to retrieve a lost relic, but things go dangerously awry when they run afoul of the wrong people in this hilarious and action-packed adventure.
Also Nominated: Barbie; Nimona; Poor Things; Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse; 流浪地球2 / The Wandering Earth II
Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form
WINNER: The Last of Us: “Long, Long Time”
Doomsday prepper Bill prepares to ride out the apocalypse alone… until a mysterious stranger upends his plans. Years later, Joel and Ellie seek Bill’s guidance – and find themselves at a crossroads.
Also Nominated: Doctor Who: “The Giggle”;; Doctor Who: “Wild Blue Yonder”; Loki: “Glorious Purpose; Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: “Subspace Rhapsody”; Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: “Those Old Scientists”
Best Game or Interactive Work
WINNER: Baldur’s Gate 3
Gather your party and return to the Forgotten Realms in a tale of fellowship and betrayal, sacrifice and survival, and the lure of absolute power. Mysterious abilities are awakening inside you, drawn from a mind flayer parasite planted in your brain. Resist, and turn darkness against itself. Or embrace corruption, and become ultimate evil.
Also Nominated: Alan Wake 2; Chants of Sennaar; DREDGE; The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdo; Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Best Editor, Short Form
WINNER: Neil Clarke
Also Nominated: Scott H. Andrews; 杨枫 / Yang Feng; Jonathan Strahan; Lynne M. Thomas & Michael Damian Thomas; 刘维佳 / Liu Weijia
Best Editor, Long Form
WINNER: Ruoxi Chen
Also Nominated: 姚海军 / Yao Haijun; Lindsey Hall; Lee Harris; Kelly Lonesome; David Thomas Moore
Best Professional Artist
WINNER: Rovina Cai
Also Nominated: Micaela Alcaino; Galen Dara; Dan Dos Santos; Tristan Elwell; Alyssa Winans
Best Semiprozine
WINNER: Strange Horizons
Strange Horizons is a weekly magazine of and about speculative fiction. They publish fiction, poetry, reviews, essays, interviews, roundtable discussions, and art.
Also Nominated: Escape Pod; FIYAH Literary Magazine; GigaNotoSaurus; khōréō; Uncanny
Best Fanzine
WINNER: Nerds of a Feather, Flock Together
Also Nominated: Black Nerd Problems; The Full Lid; Idea; Journey Planet; Unofficial Hugo Book Club Blog
Best Fancast
WINNER: Octothorpe
A podcast about science fiction and SF fandom from John Coxon, Alison Scott, and Liz Batty
Also Nominated: The Coode Street Podcast; Hugos There; Publishing Rodeo; 科幻Fans布玛 / Science Fiction Fans Buma; Worldbuilding for Masochists
Best Fan Writer
WINNER: Paul Weimer
Also Nominated: Bitter Karella; James Davis Nicoll; Jason Sanford; Alasdair Stuart
Örjan Westin
Best Fan Artist
WINNER: Laya Rose
Artist, and creator of the cleverly designed, beautifully presented Overgrown web comic
Also Nominated: Iain J. Clark, Sara Felix, Dante Luiz, Alison Scott, España Sheriff
Lodestar Award for Best Young Adult Book
Not a Hugo Award
WINNER: To Shape a Dragon’s Breath, Moniquill Blackgoose (Del Rey)
Also Nominated: Promises Stronger than Darkness, Charlie Jane Anders (Tor Teen); Abeni’s Song, P. Djèlí Clark (Starscape); Unraveller, Frances Hardinge (Macmillan);
Liberty’s Daughter, Naomi Kritzer (Fairwood); The Sinister Booksellers of Bath, Garth Nix (Katherine Tegen Books; Gollancz; Allen & Unwin)
Astounding Award for Best New Writer
Not a Hugo Award
WINNER: Xiran Jay Zhao
Also Nominated: Moniquill Blackgoose; Sunyi Dean*; Ai Jiang*; Hannah Kaner;
Em X. Liu
* Finalist in their 2nd year of eligibility
** Zhao’s eligibility was extended at the request of Astounding Award sponsor Dell Magazines
The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
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